Kunle Adelabu
-To introduce etiquette competition among schools
The Rhoda Youth Centre has presented scholarships to over 100 students across Ikorodu Division in the form of distribution of essential learning materials, a gesture which the beneficiaries would enjoy throughout their primary school education.
Two vulnerable students were picked in each of the over 70 public primary schools in Ikorodu Division to receive a school bag, school unform, 12 pieces of 40 leaves exercise books each, one 20 leaves exercise book for writing, one drawing book, two pairs of white socks, a pair of sandals, and five pieces of pencils each.
The three days exercise which started on Monday, December 15 through Wednesday December 17, took place at six centres – Methodist Primary School, Ikorodu; Methodist Primary School, Igbogbo, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA; Methodist Primary School, Oke -Eletu, Ijede LCDA; L.G. Primary School, Imota LCDA; Cherubim & Seraphim Primary School, Ogolonto, Ikorodu West LCDA and Farm Settlement Primary School, Odogunyan, Ikorodu North LCDA, with beneficiaries and their parents full of smiles and offering prayers for the Rhoda Centre.
During the exercise, L.G. Primary School, Oreta, was presented with KG table and chairs, while scholarship was announced for Praise Emmanuel of African Bethel Primary School, Maya, throughout his primary and secondary education.
According to Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, the founder of Rhoda Youth Centre, the scholarship will be a continuous exercise.
“We picked two pupils across all the schools in Ikorodu division. Our intention was to pick more but we decided to start with two each.
“This set will be provided with educational materials – uniform, bag, exercise books, drawing book, writing book, sandals, and socks throughout their primary school education. Come next year, we are picking another set who are also going to be provided for while we will also continue with the existing beneficiaries.
“The intention is to give them confidence; to make them not to feel inferior among their peers because it’s only a pupil with a good uniform, and writing materials in class that would be bold and confident to relate and that helps such pupil’s development.”
Asiwaju Erogbogbo furthered, “Our intention is to assist them in ensuring that what their parents are unable to provide for them does not jeopardise their upbringing and future.
“Etiquette is important – we are concerned about how these children are raised. We care for their upbringing.”
Erogbogbo, who was the immediate past Chairman, Ikorodu -Oga Development Association (IKODASS), also commended the government interventions in ensuring that public schools are of standard.
“The government is trying their best because I took my time to go round all the primary schools in Ikorodu Division and I can see that they are fantastic. I would rather put my children in the public schools than in most of the private schools.
“On two occasions, the government provides books for the pupils. They brought the books and I know what books cost because I have worked with publishers in the cause of these projects and during another engagement.
“To cap it all, public schools are staffed with the best teachers that you can have. They have qualified teachers and many of them hold more than one certificate.”
During the presentation, the founder of Rhoda Youth Centre also emphasised the importance of etiquette and plans of the group to start a competition in that regard among schools in Ikorodu.
”We hope that schools will be serious about the etiquette programme because we are going to organise competition among schools. We will monitor the process and a child will represent each school in the Junior Primary 1 – 2 and senior categories (Primary 4 – 6.
“Winners will be given scholarship awards while teachers of such children will receive handsome cash support and the school will get a project.
“Rhoda Youth Centre will not rest on etiquette and we have developed a calendar and we will not do any other programme until we get this right.
“As we go along, we will also do some interventions in schools. There is a school that its kindergarten lacks chair and we have purchased the chairs needed for them and they will be delivered to the school.”
Rhoda Centre also announced plans for the parents of beneficiaries whom Erogbogbo said the centre would train and provide with soft loan as empowerment so as to be able to care for their children.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Development, Comrade Lekan Biliamin -Oba expressed his happiness at Erogbogbo’s consistency in impacting the society and described it as a challenge to the younger generation to do more.
Oba said he has been a beneficiary of Rhoda Youth Centre leadership and capacity building training and commended Asiwaju Erogbogbo for supporting the government in providing essential learning materials to pupils in form of scholarships.
While stating that the support would go a long way in shaping the perception and commitment of the children, he however, charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the learning materials and use them for their growth and development so that they too in future would be able to give back.
Barr. Ade Ayeni, Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, who represented his chairman at the Igbogbo/Baiyeku centre for the distribution, thanked Rhoda Centre for assisting the council in doing some of its duties.
“I want to thank the facilitator – Rhoda Youth Centre for filling-in the gap because this is what we ought to be doing that they are assisting us with. They are helping us to do our job and making it easy for us. What they are doing is not just for us in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, but all -over Ikorodu Division.
“But I am not surprised because the brain behind the initiative, Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, has initiated several ideas in the past that have been of great benefit to Ikorodu Division. He’s someone that we usually run to whenever we need support, ideas and mentoring.
“This is an act of service and that is what you have been doing over time. It is because you like giving back to society, especially those that are in need.”
Barrister Ayeni said through the support, Rhoda Centre is opening way and giving opportunities to many children that would turn-out to be their families’ breadwinners.
The vice chairman emphasised that the school uniform and other learning materials would give beneficiaries confidence and boost their morale to do well academically.
Barr. Ayeni also stated that the administration of Omoba Hammed Aroyewun in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA has been impacting greatly on education by creating a conducive learning environment and facilities to give pupils quality education.
An official from the Office of Quantity Assurance commended Rhoda Centre for its consistency in improving etiquette in schools with training, an initiative she said has been impacting on the system.
She also lauded the provision of learning materials for pupils as great support that would improve performance on the part of the pupils.
Schools’ representatives, parents and the benefiting pupils commended the Rhoda Centre’s initiative which they described as wholesome and highly impacting.
Some of the officials of the Rhoda Youth Centre that were part of the three days exercise were Mrs Tosan Erogbogbo, wife of the Rhoda Youth Centre’s founder, Deacon Austin Awulonu, an author and producer, Maureen Awulonu, Lead Consultant at Tchinasah Limited- an Edu-consulting Outfit, Mrs Mabodu Ololade, founder Auntie Lola Foundation, Mr Babs, an actor and Mr Animahun, educationist among others.
